Mechanism for rendering a vacuum cleaner inoperative if no bag is in place



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7HEIR ATTORIYEY Nov. 18, 1958 A. H. BEEDE ETAL MECHANISM FOR RENDERING AVACUUM CLEANER INOPERATIVE IF NO BAG IS IN PLACE- Filed Nov. 13, 1956REY 1958 A. H. BEEDE ETAL 2,860,724

I MECHANISM FOR RENDERING A VACUUM CLEANER INOPERATIVE IF NO BAG IS INPLACE Filed Nov. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 g INVENTORS w v He/vow H5550:

gKg I BY Hus/v R ('nm THEIR ATTORNEY United States Patent 9 i MECHANISMFOR RENDERING A VACUUM CLEANER INOPERATIVE IF NO BAG IS IN PLACE ArnoldH. Beetle, amara, and Allen P. Cawl, Noroton Heights, Conn., assignorsto Electrolux Corporation, QldGreenwich, Conn., a corporation ofDelaware Application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,638

8 Claims. (Cl. 183- 37) either case it sometimes occurs that theoperator forgets to replace the cloth bag;or toinsert a new disposablebag, with the result that the dirt drawn into the cleaner duringsubsequent operation of the machine fouls the fan and motor and, if {themachine is not provided with a filter, a

large, percentage of the dirt passes through the cleaner andisdischarged into the air in the room.

If thecleaner is of a type using a disposable bag having a relativelystiff cardboard disc formed with a small inlet opening the removablecover of the cleaner may be so constructed that it does not seal thedust bag compartment, the aforementioned cardboard disc being reliedupon for this purpose. Consequently, if no dust bag is in positionwithin the cleaner, the dust bag compartment will not be sealed, butwill be open to the atmosphere so that if the motor-fan unit is operatedrelatively clean air will be drawn directly into the dust bagcompartment and littleor no flow will take place through the hose,inasmuch as the latter path offers a much greater resistance to flow.Consequently, while the motor-fan unit may be operated, no dirt will bedrawn into the cleaner. Such arrangements are shown in Patent No.2,567,221 issued September 11, 1951 to G. E. Lofgren and Patent No.2,641,330 issued June 19, 1953 to Lofgren, Lampe and Ferraris.

However, with an arrangement of this nature it is not possible to use apermanent cloth bag having a wide opened mouth, as is preferable foreasy emptying, as the dust bag compartment would not be sealed when sucha bag is in place. Accordingly, it is an object of our invention toprovide an arrangement whereby either a cloth dust bag or a disposabledust bag may be employed, together with means for preventing operationof the vacuum cleaner in the event no bag is placed therein. Morespecifically, our invention contemplates a movably mounted member soarranged that if no bag is in position a portion of this member isbiased into the path of travel of the latch which removably secures thefront cover to the casing of the cleaner so that the latch is preventedfrom engagement, which in turn assures that the front cover will notremain closed. This movable member is so arranged that, if either acloth bag or a disposable bag is in position, a portion of the membercontacts such bag so as to move the member out of the path of travel ofthe latch, thus permitting the latterto function in the normal manner tosecure the cover 'in place.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich form a part of this specification and on which;

2,86%,724 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 ICC Fig. 1 is a view partially incross-section of a vacuum cleaner including one embodiment of ourinvention and showing the cleaner with a disposable bag in place there-Fig. 2 is an end view of the cleaner with the front cover removed,looking in the direction of the arrows 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to Fig. l, but showingthe cleaner with no bag in position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a cloth bag in thecleaner;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in theprevious figures.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 10 designates generallythe housing of a tank type vacuum cleaner, in one end of which islocated a motor-fan unit 12 having an inlet 14. The space 16 within thehousing 10 to the left of the motor-fan unit, as viewed in Fig. 1, is adust bag compartment in which is disposed a bag supporting member 18formed with a large number of perforations 26. The open end of member 18is secured to a ring 22 fastened to the open end of casing 14.

A cover or closure member 24 is pivotally secured to the ring 22 bymeans of a hinge 26. A latch member 30 is pivotally mounted at 32 in thecover diametrically opposite from the hinge 26 and is provided with aspring 34 urging it in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs.1, 3, 4 and 5. The upper part of ring 22 is provided with a pair of cars36 extending forwardly there from and between which is disposed a keeperin the form of a bar or pin 38. As seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the latch30 is in engagement with the pin 38 so as to hold the cover closed.

Latch 30 has a button portion 40 which extends out wardly through anopening in the cover 24 so as to be accessible for manual operation. Thelatch 36 also has attached thereto an arm 42 which is engaged by a stem44 connected to a diaphragm 46 which constituted one wall of a diaphragmchamber 48 formed in the cover. The interior of chamber 48 is connectedby means of a conduit Stl With a space 52 within the housing of adifferential pressure responsive device designated generally byreference character 54.

This device includes a pressure responsive diaphragm 56, the right-handside of which, as viewed in Fig. 1, is subjected through a conduit 58 tothe pressure existing within an inlet conduit 60 carried by the frontcover. The other side of the diaphragm 56 is subjected to the suctionproduced by the motor-fan unit and communicated through the dust bagcompartment 16,. a short conduit 62 carried by the ring 22 and a conduit64 in the cover 24. The ends of conduits 62 and 64 are in sealingrelationship with each other when the cover 24 is closed. The diaphragm56 is biased to the right by means of a spring 66. A valve member 68 isslidably mounted in the device 54 and is attached to a valve stem 70which'is disposed so as to be contacted by the diaphragm when the lattermoves to the left. A spring 72 tends to seat the valve 68. As previouslydescribed, high suction from the fan will be communicated to the leftside of the diaphragm 56 and, if the valve 68 is opened by movement ofthe diaphragm to the left, this suction will be communicated through thespace 52 and the conduit 50 to the diaphragm chamber 48, thus moving thediaphragm 46 to the left so as to pivot the latch 36 in a clockwisedirection to thereby disengage it from the keeper 38. The latch 36,diaphragmchamber 48 and control device 54 are enclosed within the cover24 by a plate 73.

This vacuum cleaner is designed to employ either a disposable paper dustbag or a cloth bag which may be emptied and used repeatedly. In Figs. 1and 5 there is shown a disposable bag designated generally by referencecharacter 74. This bag includes a substantially rigid cardboard disc 76to which is secured a bag portion 78 made of pervious paper so that theair may pass therethrough while the dust is retained therein. The disc'76 is formed with a centrally located aperture through which extendsthe inlet conduit when the cover is closed. Plate '73 of the coverpreferably carries a. gasket member 80 which surrounds the inlet'conduit60 and bears against the disc 76 so as to hold the outer periphery orflange portion of the latter against a seat formed by a gasket 82carried by the ring 22.

The outer end of conduit 60 is formed as one part of a separablecoupling so that a flexible hose carrying the other part of the couplingmay be connected thereto. Operation of the motor-fan unit 12 serves todraw air in through the hose and conduit 611 to the interior of the dustbag, which separates from the air any dirt entrained therewith, theclean air passes through the pervious material of the bag.

Secured as by rivets 83 to the upper side of housing 10 is a bracket 84,which is shown in perspective in Fig. 6. Bracket 84 is disposed betweenthe casing and a trim piece 85. This bracket is formed with a forwardupwardly extending arm 86 having an opening 88 therethrough and a rearupwardly extending arm 90 having a slot 92 formed therein. As will beseen from Fig. 1, a bolt 93 extends through front ring 22 and hasthreaded engagement in hole 88 and serves to secure the ring in place. Arod 94 extends through slot 92 and through an aligned opening formed inring 22. A coil spring 96 is disposed around rod 94 and is confinedbetween arm 90 and a collar or flange 98 formed on the rod.Consequently, this spring tends to move the rod 94 to the left, asviewed in Fig. 5. The righthand end of the rod 94 is connected to theoperating member 1118 of an electric switch, the arrangement being suchthat when the rod is moved tothe left under the influence of spring 96,the rod moves the member ltltl to the ofl position. The left end of therod which projects through the opening of the ring 22 is disposed so asto contact a projection 101 on the cover 24 when the latter is closed,the closing of the cover pushing the rod to the right so as to compressthe spring 96. Hence, when the cover is released by the disengagement oflatch 34) from the keeper 38, the rod 94 under the influence of spring96 starts to pivot the cover to open position.

Bracket 84 has a vertically extending arm 182 disposed to one side ofthe slot 92 on which is movably mounted structure comprising a member194- pivotally secured to this arm. This structure includes an arm 1%which extends through an opening 1118 in the upper part of ring 22, asmay be seen particularly in Fig. 2. The outer end of arm 106 is bentsubstantially at right angles and carries 'a depending portion 110, thelower edge 112 of which is curved backwardly as is shown in Figs. 1, 3,4 and 6. The structure is so arranged that if a disposable dust bag 74is in position within the cleaner, the upper edge of the cardboard disc76 thereof contacts the lower edge 112 so as to pivot the member 104upwardly in a clockwise direction against the force of a spring 114secured to the arm 106 and bearing against the under side of trim piece85. Portion also includes an upwardly extending arm 116 which extendsthrough the space between the ring 22, the pin 38 and the two ears36;The upper end of arm 116 is hook-shaped, as is shown at 118 in Figs. 1,3, 4 and 6 and is so disposed that if the member 184 is in its lowermostposition, hook 118 is in the path of travel of the latch member 31) andthus prevents the latch member from engaging the keeper 38. If there isno bag in the cleaner, the member 104 Will be in this lower position, asis shown in Fig. 3', wherein it is seen that the latch 30 is held out ofengagement with the keeper 38. However, if the disposable paper bag isin position, as shown in Fig. 1, the member 104 is pivoted upwardly sothat the hook 118 is out of the path of travel of the latch 30 andconsequently the latter is able to engage the keeper 38.

In-Fig. 4 there is shown a cloth dust separating memher 120 in placewithin the cleaner. This member includes a metal ring 122 to which issecured the cloth bag itself. The ring 122 has an outwardly extendingflange around the periphery of which is arubber gasket 124 which is heldagainst the gasket 82 by the plate 73 when the cover 24 is closed. As isshown in Fig; -4, the presence of the cloth dust bag, and moreespecially the ring 122 and gasket 124 thereof, contacts the inturnededge 112, thus lifting the member 104 so that the hook portion 118 ismoved out of the path of travel of the latch 30 so that. the latter isable to engage the. keeper 38 to hold the front cover 24 in closedposition.

As above mentioned, when neithera disposable paper bag nor a cloth bagis in place in the cleaner, the member 104 is moved downwardly under theforce of the spring 114 so'that the hook portion 118 prevents the latch30 from engaging the keeper 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus,although the cover may be pivoted -to its fully closed position it willnot remain in this position, but will be immediately opened by thespring 96 moving rod 94 outwardly as soon as the operators hand isremoved and hence, even if the motor could be operated, dirty air wouldnot be drawn in through the hose connected to conduit 65, but only cleanair through the open front end of the cleaner. However, in theembodiment disclosed, this movement of the rod also assures that theswitch 100 is moved to the oif position and. consequently it isimpossible to operate the motor-fan unit without a dust bag.

While we have shown one more or less specific embodiment ofourinvention, it is to be understood that this has been done forpurposes of illustration only and the scope of our invention is not tobe limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What we-claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a closure for said opening, a movablelatch member for releasably securing said closure in closed position,movable structure, and means for biasing said movable structure into thepath of travel of said latch member for preventing the latter fromlatching, said structure having a portion contacting said dustseparating member when the latter is received in saidcasing for holdingsaid structure out of said path of travel.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a closure for said opening, a pivotedlatch member for releasably securing said closure in closed position, apivoted lever, and biasing means for pivoting one portion of said leverinto the path of travel of said latch member for preventing the latterfrom latching, said lever having another portion contacting said dustseparating member when the latter isreceived in said casing for holdingthe first-mentioned portion out of said path of travel.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a closure for said opening, a pivotedlatch member for releasably securing said closure in closed position, aspring for urging said latch member towards latching position, movablestructure, and a spring for moving oneportion of said structure into.the pathof travel of said latch member, the relative strengths of saidsprings being such that the presence of said structure=in-the pathoftravel of said latch member :pi'events thevlattertrom latching, Saidstructure having another portion contacting said dust separating memberwhen the latter is received in, said casing for holding thefirst-mentioned portion out of said path of travel.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a closure for said opening, a movablelatch member on said closure for releasably securing said closure inclosed position, a movable element on said casing, and means for biasingsaid movable element into the path of travel of said latch member whensaid closure is closed for preventing said latch member from latching,said element having a portion contacting said dust separating memberwhen the latter is received in said casing for holding said element outof said path of travel.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a closure for said opening, a latchmember pivotally mounted on said closure for releasably securing saidclosure in closed position, a lever pivotally mounted on said casing,and biasing means for pivoting one portion of said lever into the pathof travel of said latch member when said closure is closed forpreventing said latch member from latching, said lever having anotherportion contacting said dust separating member when the latter isreceived in said casing for holding the first-mentioned portion out ofsaid path of travel.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, a dust separatingmember receivable in said casing, a motor-fan unit in said casing forproducing flow of air into said dust separating member, a closure forsaid opening, a rod movably mounted on said casing with one endcontacting said closure when the latter is in closed position, springmeans urging said rod in a direction to open said closure member, amovable latch member for releasably securing said closure in closedposition, a movable element, and means for basing said movable elementinto the path of travel of said latch member for preventing the latterfrom latching, said element having a portion contacting said dustseparating member when the latter is received in said casing for holdingsaid element out of said path of travel.

6 7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening, means forming aseat around said opening, a closure for said opening, a pivoted latchmember for releasably securing said closure in closed position, a lever,means for pivoting said lever so that the free end thereof is movablesubstantially in the plane of said opening in the neighborhood of saidseat, means for biasing said lever so that said free end is movedinwardly towards the center of said opening and so that a portion ofsaid lever is disposed in the path of travel of said latch forpreventing the latter from latching, and a dust separating memberreceivable in said casing and having a flange seating on said seat, theintroduction of said dust separating member causing said flange to pivotsaid free end outwardly to move said portion of said lever out of thepath of travel of said latch member.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening,

means forming a seat around said opening, a closure for said opening, alatch member pivotally mounted on said closure for releasably securingthe latter in closed position, a lever, means for pivotally mountingsaid lever on said casing so that the free end of the lever is movablesubstantially in the plane of said opening in the neighborhood of saidseat, means for biasing said lever so that said free end is movedinwardly towards the center of said opening and so that a portion ofsaid lever is disposed in the path of travel of said latch when saidclosure is closed for preventing the latch fiom latching, and a dustseparating member receivable in said casing and having a flange seatingon said seat, the introduction of said dust separating member causingsaid flange to pivot said free end outwardly to move said portion ofsaid lever out of the path of travel of said latch member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,322,948 Lofgren June 29, 1943 2,656,897 Yonkers Oct. 27, 19532,742,105 Dow Apr. 17, 1956

